Optical slip ring apparatus utilizing radial light signals

Abstract

Optical slip ring apparatus is disclosed in which radial light signals formed in a continuous ring are transmitted between a barrel and a surrounding sleeve within which the barrel is rotatably mounted. The ring of light signals is produced and detected respectively by a plurality of light emitting diodes and light detector means carried on the barrel and the sleeve. The light detector means may include an optical fiber bundle for transmitting light signals to a remote detector. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical and electromechanical slip ring channels are incorporated into a single device.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or right is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. Optical slip ring apparatus for transmitting light signals between two bodies, one of which is rotatable relative to the other about an axis of rotation, comprising: a first light source for emitting a first radial light signal throughout a continous ring in a first plane;   a first member adapted to be fixed to one of the relatively rotatable bodies, and adapted to carry said first light source so that said ring is centered on the axis of rotation and the first plane is perpendicular to the axis of rotation;   a first light detector; and   a second member adapted to be fixed to the other of the relatively rotatable bodies, and adapted to carry said first light detector so that it is positioned to receive radial light signals emitted by said first light source.   
     
     
       2. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first member comprises a barrel extending along the axis of rotation;   said second member comprises a sleeve extending over said barrel along the axis of rotation; and   said first light source and said first light detector are carried on surfaces of said barrel and said sleeve.   
     
     
       3. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 2 further including: a second light source for emitting a second radial light signal throughout a continuous ring in a second plane parallel with and axially spaced from the first plane; and   a second light detector positioned to receive radial light signals emitted by said second light source.   
     
     
       4. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 3 further including baffle means for preventing cross coupling of light signals emitted by said first and second light sources. 
     
     
       5. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 4 wherein said baffle means comprises an annular disk member interposed between said barrel and said sleeve, and lying in a third plane between the first and second planes. 
     
     
       6. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said first and second light sources each comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced around the periphery of said barrel; and   said first and second light detectors are carried on the interior of said sleeve and located in the first and second planes respectively.   
     
     
       7. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 6 further including an electromechanical slip ring channel comprising: a contact ring carried on said barrel in a fourth plane parallel with and spaced from the first, second and third planes;   a slider element carried within said sleeve and positioned to engage said contact ring; and   means for conducting electrical signals to said contact ring and said slider element.   
     
     
       8. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 7 further including means for converting at least one of said first and second light signals into a corresponding electrical signal. 
     
     
       9. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said first light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced around the periphery of said barrel; and   said first light detector is carried on the interior of said sleeve and located in the first plane.   
     
     
       10. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes comprises four light emitting diodes equally spaced around said barrel. 
     
     
       11. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said first light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced around the interior of said sleeve; and   said first light detector is carried on said barrel and located in the first plane.   
     
     
       12. The optical slip ring apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first light detector includes optical fiber means having an end oriented to receive radial light signals emitted by said first light source. 
     
     
       13. Multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of light signals between two relatively rotatable bodies comprising: a barrel adapted to be connected to one of said bodies;   a sleeve adapted to be connected to the other of said bodies;   bearing means for carrying said barrel within said sleeve so as to permit relative rotation about an axis;   a plurality of light sources mounted on said barrel, each light source for emitting a radial light signal in a continuous ring in a separate plane perpendicular to the axis; and   a plurality of light detectors mounted within said sleeve, each light detector lying in a separate one of the planes of said plurality of light sources, and positioned to receive the radial light signal emitted by the light source in the plane.   
     
     
       14. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 13 wherein each light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced around the periphery of said barrel. 
     
     
       15. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 14 wherein each light source comprises four light emitting diodes equally spaced around said barrel. 
     
     
       16. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 15 further including baffle means for preventing cross coupling of light signals emitted by adjacent light sources. 
     
     
       17. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 16 wherein said baffle means comprises an annular disk interposed between said barrel and said sleeve between each pair of adjacent light sources. 
     
     
       18. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 17 further including means for converting at least one of the light signals into a corresponding electrical signal. 
     
     
       19. The multiple channel optical slip ring apparatus of claim 18 further including an electromechanical slip ring channel comprising: a contact ring carried on said barrel in a plane parallel with and spaced from the planes of said plurality of light sources;   a slider element carried on said sleeve and positioned to engage said contact ring; and   means for conducting electrical signals to said contact ring and said slider element.   
     
     
       20. The multiple channel slip ring apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of said plurality of light detectors includes optical fiber means having an end oriented to receive radial light signals emitted by the light source associated therewith.